Wagon Train Melody

Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

T hey found a pleasant spot along the banks of the river where some trees grew and rocks protruded. A nice place for a picnic.

Rudy chased the girls, making them giggle as he swung them overhead. Creating as many memories as he could to take into the future.

He walked along the edge of the water with Bo, listening to the boy’s plans about getting a job. “Seems there’s no rush with the account at the store for Alice. Maybe you can go to school instead.”

Bo shook his head. “I’m done with school. I have to be a man.”

Oh, how Rudy wished he could stay and ease the boy’s mind about growing up so fast.

But he was drawn back to Alice’s side as she looked at the rocks along the riverbank. He wondered what she looked for and asked her.

She straightened. “Nothing in particular.” She picked up a glassy smooth stone. “I was thinking how pretty this is. How smooth. Tumbling in the water and rolling across the sharp sand has polished it.” She looked away into the distance. “I hope the challenges of life can turn me into a better, kinder person.” She dropped the stone into her pocket.

He studied her, trying to think if she referred to a specific challenge or did she mean life in general. But he would eliminate those polishing events if he could. He’d done the best he could by leaving her a generous amount of credit at the store.

But the thought of her facing winter alone with snow to shovel, the cold to fend off—he couldn’t think any further along those lines. Instead, he would gather as many memories of time shared with her as he could.

He took her hand to guide her over the rough ground, grateful for the excuse. They didn’t go far, as the girls needed supervision. They sat together to watch them and laugh at their play.

Bo wandered back, eyeing the food and they called the girls to join them. It was Rudy’s turn to offer the blessing and his heart swelled with gratitude and regret. Gratitude at having met this family and having shared time with them. Regret that for their sake, he must move on.

They lingered as long as they could then returned. She invited him to stay for supper and he couldn’t refuse; knowing every memory would be precious as gold in the future.

“Do you ever think you’ll come back this way?” she asked as they lingered at the door at the end of the evening.

“Would you like me to?” He had to know what she thought of him leaving.

“I would like it very much.” Her smile was tender and sweet. She took in a deep breath, released it, then leaned into him and brushed his lips in a sweet, butterfly-and-honey kiss. “I’ll be here. Waiting.”

He was standing in the yard, the door closed behind him before he came to his senses. He needed to tell her not to wait.

Didn’t he?

Maybe he’d do it tomorrow. They’d arranged to attend church together.

The next day he paced the street, waiting for the time he could go to her house and meet her and when the hour finally arrived, he had to keep himself from running all the way.

She stepped from the house at his approach, the girls at his side, Bo behind them.

He stared. She had curled her hair around her head. Her bonnet fit prettily over it. She wore a royal blue dress that made her eyes look dark and warm. He swallowed hard. “You look very nice.” At the way her cheeks colored, he lowered his gaze to the girls. “And so do the both of you. You too, Bo.”

He crooked his arm toward Alice, and she put her hand around his elbow as they went to church. They sat together in a pew. Just like a real family.

They sang in perfect harmony.

They listened intently, though Rudy had to confess his mind whirled with many things not pertaining to the message.

Alice had left something cooking in the oven and he joined them for the noon meal. He was glad of any excuse to keep her company. The weather was lovely. “Who wants to go for a walk and have a better look at the town?”

Everyone agreed, of course, and none were more eager for the activity than he.

It didn’t take much to persuade him to share supper with them.

And then it was over. He had to take his leave. He hugged the girls. “This is goodbye, I leave before dawn tomorrow.” He wiped their eyes.

He hugged Bo around the shoulders. “You’re a good man.”

Bo nodded and hurried to his room.

Rudy faced Alice. Would she kiss him again? Would he dare kiss her? Would she be offended if he did? Or would she understand that he wanted nothing more than to hold her safe in his heart for the rest of his life?

The little girls hovered close. He wouldn’t kiss their aunt in front of them. But he did take her hands and pull her close. “It’s been a real pleasure knowing you.”

She looked at the middle of his chest then slowly raised her face to look at him.

At the tears in her eyes, he almost forgot about the two girls watching and Big Al still at large. He hadn’t told her that the Mounties had confirmed the man that was shot was not Big Al. That was information she didn’t need. But it was all he required to enable him to take this very difficult step.

She looked deep into his eyes.

He saw regret and longing. Oh, if only he could stay.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and held him tight.

He lowered his cheek to her hair, breathing in her scent, knowing he would never forget it. Then, afraid of the feelings welling up within, he put her aside and strode out the door.

“Go with God,” she called.

He didn’t hear the door close and guessed she watched him walk away. That knowledge kept him from turning around for a final look. It also kept him from running.

He set his steps resolutely to the future.

He hadn’t said what time they were leaving, but Alice was up before dawn and stood at the corner of the yard where she could watch the patrols departing the fort. Or at least she could if there was any light.

Dawn was little more than a promise when she heard the bugle and watched mounted men ride from the fort.

The first group turned right, heading east.

The next group turned left, heading west. And the first rays of sunshine caught King’s golden coat.

“Goodbye, Rudy. I will pray for you every day and cling to the hope you will return.” Not until the patrol was out of sight did she return to the house to begin her work.

It was so generous and kind of Clint to arrange the credit at the store. She’d be able to concentrate on being a mother and homemaker for a little while longer.

She’d put water to heat for laundry the night before and now built up the fire to get it boiling. She gathered up the washing and there was plenty of it after their travels. The tubs were up outdoors and everything ready.

The bar of lye soap was among the other laundry things—the scrub board, the clothes pegs, the flat irons. Except it wasn’t. She’d used it a couple of times on the journey, so she knew she’d had it. But it was no longer there. She must have left it behind.

There was nothing for it but to go to the store and buy a bar. What a nuisance. It would delay her scrubbing by at least an hour.

She’d have time to prepare breakfast and feed everyone before the store opened.

Both girls wore their saddest faces knowing Rudy was gone. Bo, on the other hand, tried overly hard to be cheerful.

She served the food then told Bo she had to get more soap. “Watch the girls while I’m gone.” At the store, she quickly found what she needed.

The storekeeper made a note of it.

Feeling as if she had to show the gratitude she felt, she tapped the tally book. “It was so thoughtful of Clint to leave this for me.”

The man closed the book and shoved it under the counter. “T’weren’t your brother.” Then he blinked. “But I wasn’t supposed to tell you. That gentleman you were with—” He stopped. “Can’t seem to keep me mouth shut today.”

“Rudy did this? Mr. Powers?”

The man held up his hands in protest. “Ma’am, I can’t tell you.”

She left the store, a smile as wide as the sky on her lips. She knew it was Rudy. She should be surprised but somehow, she wasn’t. He might not stay and help her, but he had helped in a significant way.

Her heart swelled with pure sweet love for this man.

Love? How foolish of her to feel this way. But there was no denying the bittersweet feeling in her heart.